Taiwan Period at Plano's Bethany Elementary School

Event: Diversity Day for 80+ 3rd graders

Date: 9:00 - 9:30 AM, Thursday, 3/17/2005

Mission: To enhance younger generation's respect and awareness of culture diversities among different countries and ethnicities to achieve future global harmony and peace, hence Taiwan period and China period should coexist for equal time introductory as well as other countries in this "Diversity Day" program.

Theme / Format: TAIWAN TOUCH YOUR HEART / Bookmarks were made using this 2004 logo designed by Taiwan Tourist Bureau, along with the students’ names in calligraphy and given to each student to keep as a memento.

Sponsors: Plano Sister Cities, Inc., Taiwanese American Heritage Foundation and TAA-DFW.

Volunteers:  Helen Lin, Alice Chan, Yuan-Hua Chan, Jenny Wang and Charles Wang.

Presenters: Mark Waterbury (to accept students' letters and art work to forward to HsinChu students), Alice Chan (Yuan-Hua's daughter), Yuan-Hua Chan and Helen Lin

Assessments/comments:  This project was initiated by Bethany's teacher, Melody McKee, through my contacts and involvement with Plano Sister Cities Inc. It was a successful event, which absolutely & positively promoted Taiwan to young students.  Time allotted (30 minutes with 20 minutes actual present time) was really not enough, but at end, children's enthusiasm in asking all sorts of questions about Taiwan really touched and inspired me. We can use this as a pilot project to plan a larger (entire school) or widespread scale (at all different school districts) for years to come.   [Helen Lin]